The recent Christmas break gave our staff the chance to head out, stay in, and make the most of their spare time. We caught up with our staff and asked them: "Where have you been?"
Jen
Dubai for Christmas and new year; the water park at the Atlantis hotel, dessert experience and boat round the Palm was pretty unbeatable. Along with being on the beach in 28 degree heat on Christmas Day. Also been to the new spa at centre Parcs, but how do you follow Dubai.
Emma
I have spent a lot of time recently back at home! Over Christmas and New Year, we have had friends visiting from New Zealand so have spent lots of time with them!
Harriet
I have started volunteering with Age UK, which pairs you up with an elderly person in your local area that doesn’t have many visitors or the ability to get out much. Loneliness is a horrible thing for anyone to experience, especially elderly people who may have experienced loss or illness, so being able to provide them with company and conversation can really make a difference. I recently met my new friend for the first time, and we bonded over knitting and a love of food, which is something we can now enjoy together. I like to take her shopping as it’s something she used to really enjoy but is unable to do on her own now, so we enjoy going into town and grabbing some food together.
Find out more about how you can get involved with Age UK.
Lucy
I just got back from France this week. I was at a trade show in Paris (Museum Connections), followed by a few days at my Aunt’s house in Meaux.
Daya
Unfortunately, nowhere nice. My last trip abroad was for work and since I’ve been back it’s been all work, work, work.
Sam
I have been to give blood. Last year I gave blood for the first time and turns out I have an uncommon blood type. Knowing that my blood can be used to treat any other blood type in not only beneficial for the NHS but also gives me the satisfaction that I’m at least doing something to help others.
You can find out more about giving blood here.
Jess T
I went to Birmingham to see Lord of the Dance at Symphony Hall. It was an amazing trip and an even better show. The trip itself was a girls only adventure which was a great time for me and my family to catch up. The Lord of the Dance was brilliant everyone was in awe at the talented dancers, I would highly recommend going to see it if you ever get the chance. We visited Stratford Upon Avon on the way back home after staying in a lovely hotel overnight. It was great to look around the birthplace of Shakespeare and find out what life was like decades ago, even if my cousin was more interested in going to Lush to buy a new bath bomb than looking around. It was a weekend away I will never forget.
Richard
I went to the Netherlands over Christmas, spending time in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Leiden and The Hague, amongst other places. I don’t think I’ve eaten out as much in my entire life. The Dutch are really friendly and helpful, and we will definitely be going back.
Arnika
I went to the Republic of Georgia for a friends wedding. I had a great time, it was so good to see my friend again who I hadn’t seen since university and his family made us all feel so welcome. The wedding is something I’ll probably never experience again, it was at a beautiful venue in the countryside of Tblisi in a glass dome surrounded by a lake. After we’d eaten the 5 course meal, they do the toasts. In Georgian tradition they have a toast master and after every toast the toast master makes you have to down your drink. There were at least 10 toasts!
